Trump’s lawyer rightly feared a perjury trap

Jules Witcover

Contributing Writer

Bob Woodward in his inside-the-White-House book, “Fear,” explains why lawyer John Dowd resigned from President Donald Trump’s defense team. It was, he writes, because “Dowd knew he could not bring himself to tell the president: ‘You’re a f—ing liar.’ “

The profane explanation summed up what Dowd previously had told special counsel Robert Mueller: that he opposed Trump testifying before his inquiry into alleged collusion in Russian elections meddling and other matters.

It was Dowd’s emphatic judgment that Trump could not survive such an encounter, which the president was considering. Dowd warned him that Mueller was trying to set “a perjury trap” for him, into which Trump’s persistent lying would easily ensnare him.

Dowd earlier had asked Mueller to submit questions that Trump would answer in lieu of appearing before a federal grand jury. According to Woodward, Dowd told Mueller: “Bob, here’s my point. You’re asking me to sit next to the president who’ll get to the third question (and) screw it up.”

Dowd went on: “The fact is, I don’t want him looking like an idiot. I’m not going to sit there and let him look like an idiot.”

Dowd told Woodward he had asked Mueller for one question he wanted to pose that “no one has answered.” Mueller said he wanted to know if Trump had “corrupt intent” in his actions, which obviously would be obstruction of justice.

Dowd said he replied: “Bob, so you think he’s going to say yes? Because on his behalf, I’m telling you no. And if you want me to get an affidavit that he had no corrupt intent, I’ll give it you.” Mueller replied, according to Dowd: “Let me think about it. I hate to think that you would be playing us.”

But in the end, the Mueller team dictated 49 questions ranging from “Trump’s attitude, opinions (to) conclusions on major players” in the saga that Woodward said “validated what the news was reporting” on the Mueller investigation.

Dowd thought that they were “second-year law school questions,” many of them already answered, according to Woodward. “To have Trump answer them, of course would be a catastrophe,” the lawyer said, “because Trump could erupt and say absolutely anything,”

After much back and forth, Trump tried to convince Dowd that he should testify, and that he was up to it. “That’s where I’m at,” he said at one point. “I think the president of the United States can’t be seen taking the Fifth,” referring to the likely negative reaction from his loyal voting base. “The guys out there are not going to be happy if I don’t testify.”

Dowd rejoined by asking: “What are they going to think when Mueller requests an indictment for 1,001 violations?” (meaning false statements). But Trump insisted: “No, no, I’m a good witness.” Dowd bluntly shot back: “You are not a good witness,” finally punctuating it with his explicitly vulgar indictment of him as a serial liar. “Mr. President,” he told him, “I’m afraid I can’t help you,” and resigned.

Dowd departed telling Trump he remained devoted to him “and I wish you the very best, but if you’re not going to take my advice, I cannot represent you.” To the end, John Dowd, though rebuffed, went down still saluting Trump all the way.